New York Knicks vs. Utah Jazz Prediction and Pick: New York at a Crossroads in Utah
New York Knicks vs. Utah Jazz Prediction and Pick: New York at a Crossroads in Utah
New York Knicks vs. Utah Jazz Prediction
With dreams of the playoffs slipping away and time running out on the season, the trade deadline can't get here soon enough for the New York Knicks.
Losers of eight of their last 10 games, New York has to be wondering whether the time to pull the plug has passed. There are movable veterans on the squad that other teams may be interested in, starting with Kemba Walker, who has not worked out in what was supposed to be a glorious homecoming. The Knicks rarely go an entire game without a stretch of poor play that just so happens to come when he's on the court. In this case, less would appear to be more.
Throw in slumping swingman Alec Burks, oft-injured Nerlens Noel, and maybe even Even Fournier, whose lack of toughness often seems symbolic of the difference between this year's and last year's teams, and this could be a very different roster four days from now.
With all of that hanging over their heads, it was perhaps surprising to see New York come out with such a strong effort against the Lakers on Saturday night, but they couldn't hold a 21-point lead and ended up losing in overtime. It was New York's 11th straight loss against above-.500 teams on the road that were at least mostly healthy at the time of the contest. Worse yet, they are 1-10 against the spread in those games.
Get $1000s in Free Bets For Super Bowl LVI Here Now they go into Utah for a matchup with the recently returned Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell missed a few weeks' worth of games until Friday night, when he scored 27 points on just 10 shots in a 23-point drubbing of the Harden-less Nets. Brooklyn may be in a bad place right now, but still, this was indicative of what Utah could do with their offensive leader in place, even if they are still without their defensive lynchpin in Rudy Gobert.
This line is big enough that a close loss still covers, but small enough that you don't have to worry about the back door if the game gets out of hand. Given New York's recent performance and year-long road struggles, it's impossible to take them here with much confidence. Lay the points at home.
New York Knicks vs. Utah Jazz Betting Line Movement
New York Knicks vs. Utah Jazz Pick
- PICK: Utah Jazz -8 @ -120
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Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction
It's very tempting to overthink this one.
The Thunder are the second best team in the NBA against the spread, with a cover rate of 64 percent that trails only the Memphis Grizzlies. They also just had a three-game winning streak snapped by a loss in Sacramento on Saturday night, and now they're back home for this game. They also face the Warriors without Draymond Green, and Golden State is four games under .500 against the spread in the last two months after a blistering start to the season.
All of that is well and good, but this isn't that complicated. For starters, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out along with rotation players Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Roby and Mike Muscala, while Lu Dort is questionable after missing the last game with a face injury. The Warriors have also won eight in a row, and are fighting it out with Phoenix for the top spot in the West.
Claim the Best Free Bets in Your State Now If Dort plays, this is probably a stay-away, but if he sits, that should be enough to move the needle in Golden State's direction. OKC may surprise ofter, but they're still capable of a dud, and have dropped 16 of their 52 games by at least a dozen points, including a 21-point loss the last time they played the Warriors.
Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Line Movement
Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Pick
- PICK: Warriors -12.5 @ -110
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